A Thankful People

Followers of Jesus should be the most thankful people on earth. We are the recipients of the grace of God. We have nothing to boast about and everything to be thankful for. Our God is a gift-giver.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Every good gift we have comes from our loving heavenly Father. We must say with John the Baptist: John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

A people who achieve are proud and boastful. They talk of their accomplishments and they reward one another for their competitive efforts. The opposite is a thankful people who realize that apart from Christ they can do nothing. The Scriptures instruct us to ask ourselves some questions:

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Are you different from everyone else? Who made you that way? What do you have that you did not receive? Think of it for a moment. If you are strong and athletic, who made you that way? If you have a keen mind that is good at business, who made you that way? How could we ever boast?

We must thank God for all of the good gifts that he has given to us. We must think of the result of thankful people’s lives. If a poor beggar was given bread by a benevolent man, would the beggar return to his friends and boast of having grown the wheat and made the bread? Only if he is a fool! An honest man would run to his friends and tell them of the generosity of his benefactor. If you and I are beggars that have been given the bread of life in Jesus, what kind of people ought we to be?

Thankful people pray.
Our loving heavenly Father has told us that his ears are open to our prayers. If we receive from his hand, then we must pray and ask God for the things we need.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Thankful people worship.
God the giver of good gifts deserves not only our thanks but also our praise and worship because he alone is worthy. When we worship God, we are joining in the loud cry of praise with the chorus of heaven.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 5:8-9 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Thankful people read God’s word.
Think of the horrible tragedy of people taking the gift of God’s precious word for granted. We dare not leave it laying, unread when God has so graciously given us the gift of his wonderful word.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Thankful people witness.
Because we are the recipient’s of God’s grace in Christ, we can’t help but share the love of Christ with others. Think of a person who knows there is a cure for cancer because they have been cured themselves. They would be sure to tell others of the good news if they knew it could save their lives! You and I have the greatest news ever! We must tell others the old, old story.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Thankful people gather with Christ’s church.
Jesus Christ has bought us with his precious blood and we have received good gifts from him. All of our brothers and sisters have gifts that we each use to serve one another. Some of those gifts are the pastors and teachers that Christ has given to the church. We continue to benefit from their gifting when we gather together with the people of God.
1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

Let’s be good stewards of the manifold grace of God and with gratitude in our hearts let’s live as recipients of the good gifts God has given to us. Christ is alive and you and are his! Let’s live as thankful people.